Closure means for containers



Aug. 19, 1930.

R. S. CASEY CLOSURE mums FOR cou'ruusns File d Feb. 13. 1928 llllllllllllllllll I;

Patented Aug. 19, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" ROBERT S. CASEY, OF FORT MADISON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO W. A. SHEAFFER PEN 00., OF FORT MADISON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE CLOSURE MEANS FOR CONTAINERS -My-' invention relates to closure means for containers and has special reference to stop -.pers for containers for fountain pen ink where it is desirable to provide means'for filling fountain pens direct from a bottle or receptacle as well as'to use the receptacle to pour out ink in the regular -way.

The rimary use of the invention s for ink bottles of the size used in offices and homes to keep a supply of ink to pour out into inkwells as required. Hitherto it has always been necessary in filling a fountain pen either to pour out a small quantity of ink into another receptacle or to dip the pen, where'the 1 nature of the cap permitted into the large bottle, resulting in soiling of the barrel of the pen. .1 U

My invention avoids both lnconveniences. N o ink has to be poured out into other receptacles and no soiling of the pen barrel takes place when filling the pen because the pen cannot descend far enough into the ink to make this possible.

Another advantage of the invention is that it discourages and makes unnecessary the practice of filling fountain pens from open inkwells wherein the ink, owing to evaporation. dust and precipitation, is never in fit condition for use in a fountain pen and when so usedcauses clogging and soiling of the en and obstruction of the flow of ink in the ne passages of the ink-feeding means.

With this invention there is combined the convenience of filling a fountain pen from a small bottle and the economy of purchasing ink in larger quantities.

A further object lies in the fact that the stopper embodying my invention is trim and neat and not materially different in outward 40 appearance from standard ink bottle stop pers now in use. I

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an ink bottle With the stopper inserted;

Fig; 2 is a view similar to that in Figure 1 showing the container in inverted position and partially lITSGCtlOIl; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of one A'piflicationfiled February 13,1928. Serial No. 253,834.

form of my invention showing ink dropping back from the ink reservoir into the bottle Fig. 4 is a top plan View of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section of an alternate form of my invention; and s Fig. 6 is atop plan view of Fig. 5..-

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the stopper 10 is preferably of hard rubberor other similar substance. It consists of a cylindrical portion having a shoulder portion substantially midway between. the top and bottom with a cork band where the stop perengages the neck of the ink bottle or other receptacle. The shoulder 13 prevents further entry of the stopper into thebottle. The cylindrical portion 10 is provided with an ink chamber 14 of sufficient depth 'so that the nib, or ink-feeding means, of a fountain pen inserted therein will rest on the bottom and submerge in the ink present in said chamher. In order to prevent soiling of the bar rel of a fountain pen so inserted the depth of the chamber may not be at a greater depth than is necessary to submerge only the ni b or ink-feeding means of the pen.

Extending through the stopper is an inkfeeding passage 15 preferably formed integrally With the cylindrical portion of the stopper and opening at one end into the ink bottle or container and at the other end into 8 the ink chamber of the stopper near, but not touching, the cap portion 11, which is preferably provided with a paraffined surface on its under side. This tubular passage serves as a pour-out when it is desired toempty any of the ink from the main receptacle and also as a means for filling the ink chamber 14' when it is desired to use my invention as a means for filling a fountain pen." At the bottom of the ink chamber 14 is a short tubular passage 20, preferably formed integrally with the cylindrical portion of the stopper and having in the topsurface of said passage a small hole 18 to permit the ink in the chamber 14 to drip back into the receptacle 9:

16. The tubular passage 20 must be of sufii. cient length so that when-the bottle is inverted, as in Fig. 2, and the ink pours into the chamber 14, an air pocket 17 will be formed, preventing the complete filling of said chamber 14 so that when restored to an upright position the surface of the ink in said chamber 14 will be sli htly below the level of the top of the chamber 14, thereby preventing spilling of the ink and permitting the ink to drip from the inside surface of the cap back into the chamber 14. When the receptacle'is inverted to fill the reservoir 14, ink passes into said chamber 14 through the passagel15, air at the same time escaping from they chamber 14 through the small hole 18.

The preferred form of my invention is shown in Fig. 3, wherein the escape of air when filling the chamber 14 and the drip of ink from said chamber back into-the receptacle 16 is through the small hole 18. An alternative form of my invention is shown in Fig. 5 wherein a short cylindrical member having a passageway therethrough extends downwardly through the stopper and has below the level of the bottom of the chamber 14 a ball 19 disposed in said passageway and adapted to engage a seat 23, said seat being provided with a restricted opening 22. When the bottle is inverted the ink passes into the chamber 14 through the passage 15 and air escapes through the top of said tubular passage 27. In this form of my invention it may be desirable to provide for more rapid filling by permitting the escape of air through a large opening at the top of the tubular passage 27, said opening being sealed when the receptacle is in an upright position,

the ink then passing back into said receptacle through said restricted opening 22.

Lips on the cap 11 engage with the top of the stopper by means of segmental flanges 21 integrally formed with the cylindrical portion of the stopper as shown in Fig. 4. ,1

The underside of theseflanges may be tapered so as to provide a tight engagement between the top and the stopper.

The use of my invention is not confined to ink bottles but may be used as a closure for any kind of container, such as jars or containers made of tin or any other materials.

Having described but two embodiments of my invention it is apparent that many modifications thereof may occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and I desire, therefore, that the same be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the prior art.

I claim:

1. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber embodied therein, said closure having a passageway communicating between said receptacle and said chamber for rapidly filling said chamber with the contents of said receptacle, and a second passageway of a substantially smaller diameter than said first passageway for evacuating said contents from said chamber slowly into said receptacle.

2. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber embodied therein, said closure having a passageway communicating between saidreceptacle and said chamber, said passageway terminating near the top of and for rapidly filling said chamber, said closure having a second passageway of a substantially smaller diameter than said first passageway for evacuating said contents from said chamber slowly into said re ceptacle.

3. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber therein open at the upper end thereof, a cover for said open end, said closure having a passageway communicating between said receptacle and said chamber for rapidly filling said chamber with the contents of said receptacle, and a second passageway of a substantially smaller diameter than said first passageway for evacuatingsaid contents of said chamber slowly into said receptacle.

4. A closure for the open end of receptacles, having a chamber therein open at the up er end thereof, a cover for said open end, sai closure having a passageway communicating between said receptacle and said chamber and terminating at a spaced distance from said cover for filling said chamher with the contents of said receptacle, said closure having a second passageway of a substantially smaller diameter than said first passageway for evacuating said contents of said chamber slowly into said receptacle.

5. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber embodied therein, said closure having a passageway communicating between said receptacle and said chamber, and a portion of said closure extending above the bottom surface of said chamber having a restricted opening therein for slowly evacuating the contents of said chamber into said receptacle.

6. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber embodied therein, said closure having a passageway communicating between said receptacle and said chamber, and means above the bottom surface of said chamber having an aperture therein for slowly evacuating the contents of said chamber, said means providing that said chamber may be filled only to within distance from the top thereof.

7. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber embodied therein open at the upper end thereof, a cover for said open end, said closure having a passageway communicating between said chamber and said receptacle terminating at a spaced distance from said cover, and a raised portion in said chamber whereby said chamber may be filled only to within a spaced distance from the top thereof, said raised portion having a restricted opening in communication with said receptacle for slowly evacuating the contents of said chamber.

a spaced 3. A closure for the open end (if-"receptacles having a chamber embodied therein 0 en at said chamber, tom surface of sad chamber having a rethe upper end thereof, a cover for sai open end, a tubular member extending to within a spaced distance from said cap and affording communication between said receptacle and a. raised portion above the bots-tricted opening in the upper surface. there of for slowly evacuating said chamber into said receptacle, said raised portion creating 'an air trap between the bottom surface of said chamber and the top surface of said raised portion when said container is-in an inverted position whereby said chamber is never completely filled.

, 9. A closure for the open end of receptacles having a chamber embodied therein, 'said' ,closure having a comparatively large opening for permitting communication between said receptacle and said chamber to fill rapidly the chamber from the contents of said receptacle, and valve' means between said chamber. and said receptaclefor permitting the chamber to evacuate slowly into said receptacle. y g p 10. A closure for the open end of receptacles having av chamber embodied therein,

said closure having a comparatively large opening for permitting communication between said receptacle and said chamber" to fill'rapidly'the chamber from the contents of said receptacle, and a restricted opening between said chamber and said receptacle for permitting the chamber to evacuate slowly 7 into said receptacle,"and means for prevent ing'said chamber to evacuate into said rece tacle through said large opening.

n witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. I

' ROBERT S. CASEY. 

